Studies on the Human Acceptability of the Watermelon Seed Kernel Products

Watermelons have become synonymous with summer. The watermelon seeds can be a quite frustrating experience when we are eating the sweet, refreshing fruit and have to pause to take out the tiny seeds scattered in the fruit. So the seeds are thrown away and neglected having no idea of its nutritional value. The objective of the present study is to incorporate the unconventional, cheap, thrown away and locally available watermelon seed kernels into our regular diet for achieving good nutrition. A sensory panel was prepared by selecting 100 people having normal health. They were divided equally into two different sex groups, male and female of 20-40 years respectively. The six new food preparations were given to each member of the panel. They evaluated the organoleptic properties of these products and acceptability of the food products was determined using a 9-point hedonic rating scale.